Thread: Live and learn - 1 year in Thailand

Originally Posted by Thaihome

Originally Posted by the dogcatcher

...A hi so expensive golf course will always have plastic bags on it, and you always need to over club here, by at least one.

You over club at my course you are in deep shit.

Also, no plastic bags anywhere, except the one in cart for the empty beer bottles.

TH

Indeed, my experience also. Must admit I'm confused as to what constituents a hiso golf course, is it one that charges more than 2000 for a round?

Originally Posted by Perota

^ Definitively agree. An other good reason to learn Thai. People who have no interest in fleecing foreigners have little incentive to learn English.

I,ve found that to be true in many countries. However, you can't always be sure: in my wife's home town, there are a fair number who have travelled to work overseas, or to visit their daughter who has married a farang. They just speak to me because they have a little understanding of where I am coming from.

IF you would like a true friend in thailand get a dog.

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

I've offended hundreds and hundreds have offended me. It got to where I mostly stayed home. Thailand is for Thais, at least it is if you happen to carry a strong sense of justice and fair play. I got tired of faking it. I can't live with not having my say.

That's your choice, but some of us carry the burden and do what we can...

Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

Most of the population are blinded by greed.

As are most people, in every country of the world.

So they are human after all!

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

I've offended hundreds and hundreds have offended me. It got to where I mostly stayed home. Thailand is for Thais, at least it is if you happen to carry a strong sense of justice and fair play. I got tired of faking it. I can't live with not having my say.

Me neither, so I make sure I have my say....works for me....not for them though, I'm certain of it.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Indeed, my experience also. Must admit I'm confused as to what constituents a hiso golf course, is it one that charges more than 2000 for a round?

Has nothing to do with price, it's one that only members and their guests can play:
Alpine
Amata Springs
Rajpruek

Keeps the rif-raf out
TH

Originally Posted by Thaihome

Keeps the rif-raf out

I can't image a Thai golf course not letting Thais in.

I love the local rules.....just went to wack some balls this morning.......a group of seven golfers (thai of course)...so with the caddies that's 14 people on the green...and some of them are playing 2 balls! Talk about a long day! They never let anyone play thru either.

Originally Posted by 9999

Well it's been a year since I made the move. So far so good, I've made a list of some of the things I've learned from my experiences that will make my life smooth and prevent me from going on 'Thai-tilt', like we've seen with some posters here, where the bitterness and eventually insanity takes over. I'd like to hear some rules of thumb from some posters who've been here a while and haven't gone mad. OK you're all a bit loopy, but it seems this place can really play havoc with weak minds.




Don't have an alcho tuk tuk driver as your go to guy

Don't get too friendly with people you're employing for a service, they'll just use it against you. Be anal about checking any work and generally act like a boss

There's a time and place for haggling, that does not include 7/11 or the bus ticket counter

Hot water is for pussies

Motorbikes are dangerous

The shoulder is a complex muscle and smashing your arm out of it's socket is painful

A little Thai goes a long way, just make sure you let them know, or they'll think you're speaking English and won't tune in

To break the ice with Thai men, open with something racist, sexist or self-depreciating, and know the names of at least 4 players from each of the 4 major premier league teams

Betting with a Thai means if you lose you pay, if you win you get shafted

Find a balance between avoiding conflict and being assertive enough to not get walked over

You can take the piss, as long as it's out of yourself, your country or something non-Thai. Paying out anything Thai is reserved for Thais only, paying out farangs is a free for all

Don't laugh and scoff about matters of spirituality, such as the colour and delivery date of a car. The spirits houses are not a joke

Sarcasm isn't funny

A Katoey, a midget half-wit and a cranky hi-so woman bickering in a corner store is hilarious

Asking a dodgy expat where he met his wife goes down worse than asking him how he makes a living

Choose your expat friends carefully, no need to befriend someone you wouldn't give the time of day back home just because you're both farangs

Ice in beer is the go, refreshing and stops hangovers. Sang Som is cheap and effective, again, lots of ice.

Money talks, good whisky screams

You learned fast - but what's a Hi-So woman ( in or out of an arguement?) please explain.

Originally Posted by Perota

^ Definitively agree. An other good reason to learn Thai. People who have no interest in fleecing foreigners have little incentive to learn English.

Best thing I ever did was to learn to count in Thai - amazing the difference it makes when haggling at the markets etc?

Originally Posted by Thaiguy

You learned fast - but what's a Hi-So woman ( in or out of an arguement?) please explain.

Hi-So woman, bitch with rich daddy. Here I'm trying to take the piss out of Thai sit coms.

Originally Posted by 9999

Best thing I ever did was to learn to count in Thai - amazing the difference it makes when haggling at the markets etc?

Just that knowing numbers when at the markets etc helps a lot when the venders don't speak english.

me: talai?
thai: blah blah blah sam sip baht blah blah
me: sam sip lor?
thai: chai ka, blah blah dee dee blah sam sip took
me: paang maak, yee sip baht ok mai?
thai: blah blah blah mai dai blah blah
me: mai pen rai
thai: bah blah blah yee sip ha baht blah blah
me: yee sip ha baht, ok krup

coming on nicely

Originally Posted by 9999

talai

I find tao rai works well.

My missus laughs at me saying tow rai or whatever. She says falangs always rise the tone with question and 'talai' with a rising 'ai' sounds "falang mak mak".

I've since learned to say it posh Thai style with the rolling drrror drrrreua and correct tone, but she laughs even more and it always gets a smile from the Thais, anything with the Thai "r" pronounced correctly.

Originally Posted by Thaiguy

Originally Posted by Perota

^ Definitively agree. An other good reason to learn Thai. People who have no interest in fleecing foreigners have little incentive to learn English.

Best thing I ever did was to learn to count in Thai - amazing the difference it makes when haggling at the markets etc?

So what Thaiguy, are you here to fleece us?

Originally Posted by thairanat

Issan food is a giant step above thai food.

I thought Isaan was in Thailand

when did it secede?